Santino Romanella
Senior Family Lawyer

The journey into law…

Santino was admitted into the Supreme Court of Victoria in September 2022, and the High Court of Australia shortly after. Santino has primarily worked in Family Law since admission. Before his admission, Santino’s passion for helping others drove him to provide pro bono legal services at his local community legal centre.

Experience in family law

Since beginning his legal career, Santino has built a strong and diverse practice, handling a broad spectrum of matters within Family Law. He has developed unique skills in managing complex financial agreements, navigating property and parenting disputes, preparing and lodging divorce applications, and addressing child maintenance issues.

Santino’s hands-on approach has seen him represent clients at nearly every stage of Family Law proceedings, including First Return hearings, Mediations, Conciliation Conferences, and Defended Hearings. His well-rounded experience and courtroom presence enable him to provide clients with strategic and effective legal support and strategy.

Other areas of expertise

Santino’s experience in Wills and Estate Law, acting for clientele in estate disputes, seamlessly translates to his work in the Family Law sector, leveraging his skills and deep understanding of its complex nature.

The passion for family law

Santino’s passion for Family Law comes from his genuine desire to help people. For Santino, practising Family Law isn’t just about legal strategy, it’s about guiding clients through complex emotional and practical issues with compassion and clarity. While the work can be demanding, Santino finds it incredibly rewarding to make a real difference in clients’ lives, helping them find stability and a way forward.

This blend of challenge and fulfilment is what continues to drive Santino’s dedication to Family Law.

Our care for clients

Clients choose Santino for his clear and straightforward communication. He avoids legal jargon, delivering practical advice that empowers clients to make informed decisions about their family matters. Santino is committed to providing pragmatic, cost-effective solutions and takes pride in building strong, trusting relationships with his clients. He places great emphasis on building trust within the solicitor-client relationship, creating a supportive environment where clients feel unconditionally assisted during what can be the most emotionally trying phase of their lives.

Why Unified

Santino chose to join the Unified Family team to not only advance his legal career but, also to surround himself with like-minded professionals who share his passion for Family Law and genuine care for their clients. He was drawn to Unified’s collaborative approach, not just with clients but also with opposing parties, believing that this balanced and cooperative mindset leads to better and more efficient outcomes.

The firm’s culture of teamwork, empathy, and integrity made joining the Unified family a natural and inspiring choice for Santino.

Passion outside of law

Outside of work, Santino is a true food and wine enthusiast. When he’s not enjoying a great glass of wine, you’ll likely find him by the beach, relaxing to the rhythms of Afro-house music or immersing himself in the timeless beauty of classical opera.

Other languages

Santino speaks Italian moderately. While not fluent, he understands and communicates well enough to engage in everyday conversations.